A tourist video, filmed “for fun” during a zipline ride in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, has surfaced as chilling evidence of the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April, in which 26 people lost their lives. The footage, inadvertently recorded by 36-year-old Rushi Bhatt from Ahmedabad, captures the chaos and panic as gunshots ring out in the background and people are seen running for cover, with at least one person falling to the ground.
Bhatt, an event and wedding manager, had travelled to Kashmir with his wife Bhakti and 11-year-old son Preet. Their holiday, originally planned for 16–27 April, was cut short after the attack
Recounting the incident, Bhatt said, “As you can see in the video, I had shot it for fun. I did not even know that firing was on. But (the attack) was captured on my video…”
He described realising the gravity of the situation only after several rounds of gunfire: “I realised that there was a terrorist attack after around 20 seconds on the ride when I saw that 4-5 persons had sustained bullet injuries below. During the first 2-3 firings, I could not make out (that it was a terror attack). But when the (frequency of) firings increased and I saw 2-3 persons falling down, I realised that it was a terrorist attack.”
Bhatt’s family, like many others present, scrambled for safety. “As I realised (towards the end of the ride), my wife and my son were shouting at me and I stopped shooting the video and jumped before the end point by opening the belt. My wife told me that two people from two families were killed (by terrorists) after asking their religion,” he added. Bhatt also confirmed seeing two dead bodies at the scene.
The family crouched on the ground to avoid gunfire and ran again when the shooting paused, eventually reaching safety with the help of Army personnel who arrived soon after. Bhatt later shared the video with a defence officer in Ahmedabad, who, after conducting inquiries, permitted him to release it to the media. As of now, no security agency has formally recorded his statement regarding the footage.
Zipline Operator
Bhatt revealed that the zipline operator who was present behind him during the ride has since been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). “He kept chanting ‘Allah-u Akbar’ multiple times,” Bhatt told. “It was around 2 PM. There were other families with us, taking turns on the ride. I only realised the seriousness of the situation when I saw people being shot below and my wife screamed for me.”
Zipline operator seen in viral video who was chanting Allahu Akbar and looked like intentionally sending tourist between terrorist attacks has been detained by security forces for questioning in Pahalgam terror attack probe. pic.twitter.com/r5PUSztI01
— Baba Banaras™ (@RealBababanaras) April 28, 2025